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Friday, December 27, 2013

As an author, I write stories to give hope. Yes, I always add romance as the plot is usually about someone's dreams being fulfilled. Maybe not as they'd visualized but with a wonderful end result. And I always allow my main characters to grow emotionally and spiritually.

There's no doubt hope is what keeps us going...moving forward and never giving up. God has given us that ability. Even so it is still a choice we have to make even when things seem impossible.

Thousands of years ago when God allowed the Jews to be be captured by the King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian kingdom, He gave them hope for their future. Yes, they'd sinned against His Word, by listening to evil prophets and diviners, consequently being caught up with horrible practices. Yet even after they'd been carried off to a far land he granted them hope. Hope that if they repented of their wrongdoing, He would again bring them back into their own land. In fact He said an amazing thing to them through the prophet Jeremiah. We read:

"I will fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

We may face some limiting circumstances today. We may have lost a dear one, or are facing financial difficulties, or a debilitating illness. Now is the time to seek the Lord with all your heart. Find your hope in Him for the coming year.

My friend, read John's Gospel and you will find hope in Jesus - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May God bless you.Rita Stella

Friday, December 20, 2013

How could one small baby bring peace between men out to harm each other?

That's what Canadian missionary Don Richardson asked himself. He and his college sweetheart Carol had married and then felt the call of God to share the good news with the Sawi tribes-people of Irian Jaya.

After many months working among these volatile warring tribes, one day he threatened them as they began fighting outside his house.

He cried out loudly that he'd go and work among other villagers if they didn't quit their feuding and make peace. Suddenly one man ran off and took his baby son from his wife.She screamed and wrenched it away from him. Then another man from the opposition hurried to his house and took up his baby son. His wife shrieked and wailed but couldn't stop him when he handed over their baby to a man who he had been fighting. As the man accepted the child others laid hands on it amidst women's cries.

Deeply shattered by this show of great emotion Don asked what was happening."This is the only way to make peace between us," he was told. "As long as the Peace Child lives we are safe."Don had the answer. He told them how God the Father had sent His only Son as a Peace Child between men. Wicked men killed Jesus, but He rose from the deadbecause He was God's Son and He lives forever. So they had no need to do this anymore once they believed in Him because the sacrifice of His Peace Child lasts as long as Jesus lives. And He will never die again.And this Christmas we can thank our Father for sending His Son to give us His peace in our hearts. May you all know the blessing of His lasting peace. Remember there is nothing we can add to His perfect sacrifice, but to accept it and honor Him with our right living.

Friday, December 6, 2013

An ad read: “Men, let’s be real men.”The
ad proceeded to promote a new testosterone pill. If consumed, this pill promised to boost manliness—increased sex drive, muscles and
masculinity.

The most frightening thing about this ad is that it
speaks some truth—in the sense that our society has managed to reduce manhood to sex drive and muscles.

That
is so ridiculously far from a true definition of masculinity. The truth is, women are looking for so much more in a man than strong muscles and
libido. Far more than cars, athletic ability and all the other
meaningless things our society uses to define manhood, there are some
things that actually define the measure of a man.

Honesty

More than any other trait, women are looking for a
man who is open and honest. The thing about honesty is that it’s a sign
of security. What you see is what you get, and there is absolutely
nothing to hide.

Men, it’s time to stop pretending and start being
real—real with your strengths, your weaknesses, your struggles. Real
with your hopes, your dreams and your fears. Real with who you actually
are; not who you want to be. A man who has nothing to hide becomes the
safe place in which a woman can hide her heart. Now that’s straight-up
manly.

Purity

We live in a society that has fooled us into
thinking that women have no control over their emotions and men have no
control over their eyes.There
is no doubt that we live in a world full of sexual temptation and
struggles, but it is also true that we serve a God who gives us victory
over our entire being—our minds, hearts and bodies. True masculinity
comes when a man has enough honor and respect for the woman in his life
to say no to temptations. True masculinity comes from a man who knows
his weaknesses, but sets himself up to succeed. True masculinity is
found in a man who says no to the expectations of this world and lives
for a higher calling.

Compassion

You can always recognize a real man by taking a
look at his heart. Does his heart move for the things that move God’s
heart? Is he broken by the pain in his life? Is he moved by the sins
he’s working to overcome? Is he affected when things are not as they
should be in life, in situations, in relationships?A real man is
one who allows his heart to be moved and then allows his actions to
follow his heart. A man who strives for healing, restoration and
resolution. A man who strives to right the wrongs around him—and the
wrongs within him. Women are looking for men of compassion, tenderness
and love because therein we will always find the heart of Jesus.

Humility

What
raises a man up more than any other earthly thing is his ability to
humble himself. A real man doesn’t need to talk up who he is, because
his life does that for him. He can put away the talk, because a man of
humility is focused so much more on his walk. He is quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry because he has put away his
“rights” for the right to be selfless, loving and full of grace.

The
greatest example of humility is found in the manliest man: Jesus. A man
who laid down his rights and made Himself nothing in order to be an
example of undying love and affection to the bride who won His heart.
Real men seek to do the same.Women,
it’s time to expect more from men, and then, to wait patiently until you
see these qualities at work in his life. Don’t you dare settle for
less.Men, it’s time to say no to the lies that are being poured
into your brains. You are worth far more than that. Your masculinity is
defined by so much more than you think—and that is what is truly
attractive in our eyes.

May God continue to work in the lives of
our men, that by His grace they would strive to carry the traits that
reflect nothing less than the heart of Jesus.Now that, my friends, is a manly man.

Rita Stella Galieh

About this Blog

It's exciting to trace God-incidences in lives, especially the unique way He leads His own children. He not only directs their paths, but also causes their path to intersect with the one person who will love and cherish them forever. This blog is written to encourage both young and mature women to pray about and wait for that special person God places in their path. Proverbs 3:5-6 holds a definite promise for a joyous and purpose-filled life. Why not share your story with me so I can publish it here? Email me: ritagalieh(at)gmail(dot)com.

Those We Love

They say the world is round,And yet I often think it's square;So many little hurts we getFrom corners here and there.There is one truth in life I've foundWhile journeying east and west,The only folk we really woundAre those we love the best.

The choicest garb,The sweetest grace,Are oft to strangers shown;The careless word,The frowning face,Are given to our own.We flatter those we scarcely know,We please the fleeting guest,And deal full many a thoughtlessBlow to those we love the best.